Education costs continue to outstrip inflation

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The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures show that education costs continue to outstrip inflation, maintaining the trend that has persisted for the past decade. Parents’ concerns about the increasing... Read more continue reading

Myopic investors a risk to long-term performance

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Addressing more than just near-term share prices is key to shareholder and company success according to the latest AMP Capital Corporate Governance Report. The AMP Capital Corporate Governance 2013 mid... Read more continue reading

Generation D investors: social media will help advisers regain trust

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Mr. Claudio O. Pannunzio President and Founder of US based i-Impact Group said financial advisers earnestly overestimate the average investor’s knowledge of financial markets and this has been reflected in... Read more continue reading

DIY Wills can be a recipe for disaster

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While it is good news that more Australians are becoming aware of the need to have a Will, it is concerning that many are taking the “do it yourself” path... Read more continue reading

AMP Retirement Adequacy Index shows overall adequacy levels up slightly

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The retirement adequacy of working Australians has edged slightly higher to 69.8%, up from 69.4% in 2011, but people are working for longer with average retirement ages increasing according to... Read more continue reading

Behavioural finance: Cognitive dissonance

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In any investment category there is invariably a broad spectrum of views, many of which are in outright opposition. This article by Nick Armet, Investment Director, Fidelity Worldwide Investment, looks... Read more continue reading

It costs $812,000 to raise two kids says AMP.NATSEM report

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The cost of raising kids in Australia is on the rise, with a typical middle income family spending around $812,000 to raise two children, up by 50% on 2007 figures... Read more continue reading

Twisted Clients…why they say goodbye!

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Customers leave us, and most times we blame someone else.  It gets called churn, or twisting. Probably the most contentious issue in the financial services industry is the issue of... Read more continue reading

Client satisfaction up but question advisers’ technical ability

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The ongoing noise about changes to financial services’ regulatory requirements appears to be affecting attitudes towards financial advisers. The latest Lifeplan ICFS Financial Advice Satisfaction Index* has shown clients of... Read more continue reading

Opportunity for advisers to show value of their advice

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The current market environment gives advisers a special opportunity to show their worth to clients, says Damen Purcell, head of retail distribution at Australian Unity Investments. “After three or four... Read more continue reading